Refrigerator Safety Wire / Restraining harness 2018 Navion 24D

[jcurtisis]

Winnebago Navion 2018D. Has anyone replaced the OEM Norcold DE0061R (DC only) with a Nova Kool RFU9000? If so, did you re-install the safety wire / harness on the back?
Detail: The Norcold had a safety wire / harness attached to the upper back left corner. The Nova Kool has no attachment bracket for this safety wire. It is possible to attach the bracket from the Norcold to the Nova Kool (just three screws). Unfortunately the Nova Kool manufacturer won't share any diagrams of the structure as they don't recommend attaching a bracket.

 

[bgilly]

I know of the safety lanyard you are referring to. I had to pull my Norcold for a wire pull for a different project.
That safety lanyard is an added feature between Winnebago and Norcold. The Norcold has a high-mounted compressor/condenser, unlike other models with a bottom-mounted compressor, which adds ballast. The lanyard helps prevent major top shifting of the Norcold due to the lack of ballast at the bottom. It also works like a safety belt, hopefully preventing the refrigerator from becoming a flying missile should the Navion/View experience a collision. The fascia screws won't be enough to hold a loaded refrigerator in the cabinet box.
As for the Nova Kool, I don't have experience installing one; however, I did review the installation manual, which states that their units are designed to be mounted in a cabinet and to use the supplied mounting screws and plugs. Nova Kool also has a mid-mount compressor system; however, the refrigerator is on top, which, in my opinion, is heavier than the freezer when loaded.
If it were me, I would consider attaching a safety lanyard to the refrigerator's top hinge plate. It would be inside the cabinet and discreet enough that you would never know. You'll likely have to get a longer lanyard cable made.

Bobby